Shipping-crate.



' No. 881,200. PATENTED MAR. 10, 1908;

E. L. REED.

' SHIPPING GR ATE.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 13, 1906.

VENTUR EVAN L. REED, OF OREGON, ILLINOIS.

SHIPPING-CRATE Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented March 10, 1908.

Application filed July 13, 1906. Serial No. 326,043.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, EVAN L. REED, citizen of the United States, residing at Oregon, in the county of Ogle and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Shipping-Crates, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in shipping crates of the class used for the shipment of cracker or biscuit cans of commerce, in which it is important to rovide for the rotection of the cans and a so for the colapsibility of the crates so that they can be returned by the consignee to the shipper for reuse.

The especial object. of the im rovements which form thesubject matter 0' this application, is to provide a crate of inexpensive construction, and of greater strength than is possessed by the ordinary crates in use, and in which provision is made for readily connecting and disconnecting the free ends of the crate, and also for attaching a shipping tag.

Other objects of general utility are con served by the improvements which are hereinafter described and which are illustrated in a preferred form in the accompanying drawing which forms a part of this application, in which Figure 1 shows in perspective the application of my improved crate to two cans of the kind for which it is especially adapted; Fig. 2 is an elevation of the crate showing it in its closed position, and Fig. 3 is an elevation at right angles to Fig. 2 showing the crate collapsed.

Referring to the details of the drawing, 4 re resent the corner posts of the crate w ich are square in cross section and are connected together in pairs by horizontal slats 5, 5, so positioned as to form protection for the sides of the cans, and prevent the latter from becoming displaced when crated.

6 represent wires Which connect the ends of the members of each pair of posts, and are secured to the latter by passingthrough the suitable holes, and having their ends bent in the form of hooks so as to embrace two sides of the posts as shown at 7.

8 represent two pairs of flat metal straps which are connected together by a pin 9 which forms a hinge for said straps. Through the outer ends of the members of said hinge, are suitable holes to receive the lower wires 6 which are passed therethrough,

said straps thus serving to hingedly connect the lower ends of the two frames formed by the posts, slats and wires above described.

In order to permit the hinge members to fold upwardly and closely against the 0st, I form in the edges of the latter longitu inal grooves 14 of sufficient length, depth and width to receive the straps when in their folded position.

At the center of one of the upper cross wires 6, I form an eye 10 in which is'placed the connecting member 11, which consists it passes through the eye 10, and crossed so as to intersect at one point and having one of its free ends bent up to form a hook 12. Strung on the connecting member 11 at a point between the eye and where it is crossed, is a shipping tag 13, the accidental displacement of which is prevented by the contact between the two portions of the connecting member, as clearly shown in the. drawing.

When it is desired to connect the free ends of the frames together for the shipment of cans, the member 11 is placed over the top of the upper can, the hook 12 is depressed under the opposite-wire 6, and the straight or unbent portion is leftabove the Wire 6 so as to form an interlock between the hook and the wire 6 which will prevent accidental unhooking, it being understood that the member 11 will be made short enough so that when hooked under the wire 6, there will be more or less tension on said member-which will be increased by the pressure of the boxes 15 against the slats 5 of the crate. It Will also be understood there will be sufiicient space between the top of the upper can 15 and the member 11 to permit the insertion of the hand under said member so it will serve as a handle when it is desired to lift the crate with its inclosed cans. The cans will rest upon the lower wires 6 and their sides .1 will be embraced by the straps 8. As the cans will fit between the posts and against the slats, it will be seen that accidental displacement is impossible so long as the connecting member 11 is inits operative rela tion.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim, is

1. A shipping crate consisting of a pair of frames each frame formed of two corner posts, slats secured to said posts, and cross wires connecting together the upper and of a wire bent upon itself at the point Where I lower ends of the posts of each pair, straps 2. A shipping crate consisting of a pair of frames, each frame formed of two corner posts having longitudinal grooves formed therein, slats secured to said posts and cross Wires connecting together the ends of the posts of each pair, foldable straps mounted unfolded to embrace the sides of the can, and to fit when folded in the said grooves in the posts, and means for detachably connecting together the upper cross-wires said means adapted to receive and hold against accidental displacement, a shipping tag.

3. In a shipping crate consisting of two frames hingedly and foldably connected together at their lower ends, each of said frames having a flexible cross-rod at its frames hingedly and foldably connected at their lower ends and having cross wires at their upper ends, the upper cross-wire of one frame bemg bent to form an eye, means for :detachably connecting the upper ends of on the lower cross wires and. adapted when said frame, said means consisting of a wire,

engaging said eye, bent upon itself and bent at one end to form a hook and having its other end straight and extending beyond said hook.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

EVAN L. REED. Witnesses CHARLES D. ETNYRE, CLARENCE S. HAAs. 

